The Hellphones – ‘This Is How’ (Matchbox) Released 19/03/07

It would seem, South African band The Hellphones let their new album loose upon the world in the hope that no one seems to notice the fact that they have gone and studied the book on how to be a Rockstar. Oh yeah its all there, the matching suits with white ties, the clangy drums the use of "Motherfucker" here and there, and plenty of "Oh Yeah" shouts and of course the obligatory ‘cool’ nicknames. Basically, for the most part The Hellphones’ sound comprises of Hives rip-off guitar riffs whilst a more masculine Jack Black soundalike screams and yelps into the microphone. Yet however interesting that might sound to some people, it just drags and drags as each song melts into one another as samey guitar lines and an unenthusiastic band try and keep up with a frontman with obvious vocal talent.

Of course Eddie Rastelli, Joe Flo, Fredriguez and Jonzilla, are quite comfortable in terms of skill in playing their instruments, but without their frontman Tenn Elliot they would be lost in their plethora of Hives and Kings Of Leon rips. Current single assaulting the airwaves ‘Turn On The Heat’ reinforces the generic verse/chorus/verse/key change/chorus aesthetic that this band have so disappointingly embraced on near enough every track. The Hellphones seem to be a blues band that have found rock, yet just don’t really know what to do with it yet as there are some promising (however small) moments on this album that hints at a band that could be doing so much better. ‘Motel Won’t Tell’ is almost a beautifully crafted unrequited love song that Del Amitri would have been proud to call their own, as little guitar nuances that break away from the average sound of the band’s whole direction, surrounded by great harmonies and a chorus line that will stick in your head have something to offer. Yet where does it all go wrong?

There is everything to suggest that this band could do well if they lose the attitude that they have to sound like their heroes on tracks like ‘Shake It’ and ‘Amsterdam Bang’ that could have been lifted from Aha Shake Heartbreak. Although they have tried to emulate everything that is selling well, or has been selling well over the past few years i.e. The Strokes (‘Stealing The Feeling’), Tenacious D (‘Turn On The Heat’) and The Hives (‘Miss Molly’) they are yet to realise that emulating others, no matter how good you are at it, will not pay off in this day and age. A disappointing release from a band with the skill and gusto that so many acts lack.